Self-serving store



May 2% 11924.

3 R. A. STEVENSON SELF SERVING STORE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29. 1923 inventor May 20 1924. 1,494,390

R. A. STEVENSON SELF SERVING STORE Filed May'29. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

K I r 20 11 19 23 J I 2 3 J 17 /16' 2 2 23 J I 2 3 J i i v Patented may 2@, 122%.

PATENT QFF1E.

ROBERT A. STEVENSON, F LANCASTER, OHIO.

SELF-SERVING STORE.

Application filed; may 29, 1923. Serial No. 642,297.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. S'rnvENsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lancaster, in the county of Fairfield and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Self-Serving Store, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stores, and particularly to stores of the self-serving type, and has for its primary object to provide a means whereby it will be possible for the patrons to serve themselves more quickly and more conveniently.

Another important object of this invention is to provide in a self-serving store an arrangement of fixtures such that patrons who so desire may be easily served by a clerk or an attendant.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel means for separating the patrons entering from those leaving the store.

Other objects and features will become apparent during the course of the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the interior of my invention as seen from the front end thereof;

Figure 2 is a horizontal plan view of my invention;

Figure 3 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of a transverse section made on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is a view of a longitudinal section on the line 44 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 5 is a horizontal detail view showing a modified form of entrance and exit railing.

In the drawings, the numeral 9 designates in general the storeroom bounded by side walls 10 and 11, a back wall 12, and a front 13. In the front 13 are windows 14 and an entrance 15 through which the patrons enter the store.

Across the rear end of the store is a tier of shelves 16 which divide off a section 17 which is used as a stock or supply room and for putting up orders. A door 18 permits clerks to enter this rear. section 17, while a door 19 in the wall 11 permits goods to be received or delivered from this stock room.

Along the side walls 10 and 11 is arranged shelving 20 and 21. Within the space bounded by the front 13, the shelving 16, 20, and 21 is a self-serving section 22 provided with low tables or counters 23 for holding and displaying merchandise so that the goods are accessible to the patrons.

At the front end of the storeroom and just inside the entrance 15 are two counters 24 and 25 which form a short aisle 26 wherein is positioned a low partition o-r railing 27 which extends diagonally across the aisle 26 so as to close this aisle except at each end of the railing where sufiicient space is left between the end of the railing and the adjacent counter to permit the passage of one person at a time. In the particular position shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the end of the railing 27' which is nearest the front of the store is positioned close to the counter 24 while the opposite end is positioned so as to be close to the counter 25.

The counter '24 is used as theflhecking and settlement counter and on it are placed cash registers, adding machines or other devices used in checking up or receiving payment for the goods. Show cases or cabinets 28 and 29 are placed at right angles to the counter 24 so as to form an enclosure 30 at one side of the store entrance and between the aisle 26 and the wall 10. Openings are left between the counter 24 and the showcases 28 and 29 to allow the clerks or the attendant to pass in or out, and these openings are provided with small gates 31 to prevent patrons from entering this enclosure.

' The counter 25 upon the opposite side of the aisle from the checking enclosure 30, is provided with a wire partition 32 extending along the top of the counter and upon the side nearest the aisle 26. At the end of the counter 25 may be provided a basket rack25 for the use of patrons in collecting.

the articles of merchandise. A seat or bench 33 is provided in the aisle 26 and adjacent the counter 25 for the use of atrons.

Between the counter 28 and the Front of the store 13 is a space 34 at the left of the entrance for patrons who desire to be served by a clerk without entering further into the store. A patron upon entering the store through the entrance 15 may step into the space 34, give his order to a clerk who supplies it if possible from the showcases 28, 29, or from the shelves 21 along the wall at the back of the enclosure 30, or, if necessary, the clerk or attendant enters the self-serving portion 22 of the store, collects the goods ordered by the patron from the various shelves and tables and returns to the enclosure 30 where the goods are delivered to the patron and payment or credit arrangements are made.

If the clerks are busy or if the patron prefers to serve himself he passes along tne right hand side of the railing 27 and into the self-serving section 22 where he selects the articles of merchandise he wants from the shelves 16, 20, 21, and from the tables or counters 23, or from the counter 25; after which he passes in front of the counter 24 where the goods he has selected are checked and payment is received or other arrange ments made. Patrons which have entered the self-serving section of the storeroom are served by a clerk at the counter or show case 29, when desired.

It will readily be seen that by my invention all of the patrons are visible from the checking enclosure 30 and are also visible from every other part of the store and from the outside of the store by anyone looking through the windows 14 in the front. This feature is intended among other advantages, to eliminate any tendency to theft. It is also seen that the attendant in the enclosure 30 ordinarily faces the aisle 26 which permits him to welcome the patrons who enter the store.

As seen from the above description it is possible for the clerks to serve patrons who do not care to wait upon themselves and this has been arranged partly for the reason that the self-serving plan is not practical for certain people, as for example, children, blind or partially blind, crippled or aged persons; and further, that it is very difficult and unsatisfactory to sell certain merchandise by the self-serving plan, as for example, pastry, candy, cakes, tobacco, and certain articles of merchandise which are usually not already wrapped or packed Tout which are sold in bulk.

If desired a clerk may stand in the space between the counter 25 and the shelves 20 at the right side of the store entrance so that certain goods such as meats, fresh vegetables, or other products may be better proneeaeso vided for the patrons, or, this space may be used at certain times for demonstration purposes. If desired in such cases the wire partition 32 on the top of the counter 25 may he removed entirely.

The railing 27 may be provided with a sign and an arrow on each side to indicate the direction in which the patron is to go. On the side of the railing facing the entrance is the word In and on the side opposite the word Out. However, this ralling 27 is especially designed so that the patrons will, naturally follow the proper course in enterin the store or in leaving it.

In the form 0% entrance and exit railing shown in Figure 5 the numeral 36 indicates the main portion of the railing which is positioned parallel with the entrance and exit aisle 26 in which it stands. At the ends of the railing 36 are end portions 37 and 38 which extend away from the railing in diagonal relation thereto and so as to partially close the passageways formed between the railing and the sides of the aisle but so as to still leave room for the patrons to pass through either passage one at a time, A seat 39 is placed on one side of this railing for the convenience of patrons.

It is seen that various changes can be made as desired such as changes in the relative size of the various equipment to suit the width and length of the storeroom and the invention contemplates the addition of conveniences or necessities as are obvious without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a store of the character described means for forming a self-serving section for the holding and display of merchandise, a passage way leading into said section, a settlement station at one side of the passage way, a partition element extending generally longitudinally within the passage way and having an larly disposed ends projecting toward t e opposite sides of the passage way forming contracting outlets whereby the patrons pass in single file from the ends of the partition element, the outer end of the partition element being arranged near the settlement station to cause the outgoing patrons to travel closely to said settlement station, and means arranged near the contracted opening at the inner end of the partition element for holding baskets.

2. In a store of the character described, means for forming a self-serving section for the holding and display of merchandise, a passage way leading into said section, a settlement station at one side of said passage way, and a diagonally arranged partition element within the passage way, providing an outgoing passage way section decreasing in width outwardly, and an incoming pasranged partition element for holding bassage way section decreasing in width inkets. 1

wardly, said passage way sections having re- In testimony whereof I afiix my signaduced outlets causing the patrons to pass ture in the presence of two witnesses.

5 therethrough in single file, the outer end of ROBERT A. STEVENSON.

the partition element being arranged near Witnesses: the settlement station, and means arranged R. E. STEVENSON,

near the inner end of the diagonally arp A. F. STEvENsoN. 

